recourse
Americannoun
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access or resort to a person or thing for help or protection.
to have recourse to the courts for justice.
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a person or thing resorted to for help or protection.
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the right to collect from a maker or endorser of a negotiable instrument. The endorser may add the words “without recourse” on the instrument, thereby transferring the instrument without assuming any liability.
noun
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the act of resorting to a person, course of action, etc, in difficulty or danger (esp in the phrase have recourse to )
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a person, organization, or course of action that is turned to for help, protection, etc
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the right to demand payment, esp from the drawer or endorser of a bill of exchange or other negotiable instrument when the person accepting it fails to pay
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a qualified endorsement on such a negotiable instrument, by which the endorser protects himself or herself from liability to subsequent holders
Etymology
Origin of recourse
1350–1400; Middle English recours < Old French < Late Latin recursus, Latin: return, retreat, noun use of past participle of recurrere to run back; recur
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It said the California DMV has failed to provide recourse, and informed applicants that it’s not issuing or renewing non-resident commercial driver’s licenses.
From Los Angeles Times
But some present the poll as the only recourse for a country deadlocked in conflict.
From Barron's
California Highway Patrol Officer Jordan Roy Lester claimed a medical retirement was the only recourse because of a debilitating injury, according to authorities.
From Los Angeles Times
His firms have provided accommodation to people subject to immigration control with no recourse to public funds, as well as a number of other social services.
From BBC
She said she had tried to get the "Keeping you moving through menstruation, motherhood and menopause" line trademarked but was unable to do so, and said she knew that legally she had little recourse.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
